The President's House (left) was close to other campus buildings and not as private as the Hitchcocks' own home. From "History of Amherst College during its first half century, 1821-1871", W. S. Tyler, 1873, pg 345. Image courtesy of Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association Library.

At last, on September 27, the Hitchcocks left Paris for London. The ferry crossing was terrible. The seats all taken, Edward, Orra, the Tappans, and other friends could only lie on the floor, vomiting and nauseated. “It was a ludicrous scene but every one too serious to laugh,” Orra commented.

On October 5, they sailed from Liverpool on the America, a sister ship to the Canada that had carried them at the beginning of their journey. Edward suffered for the entire crossing, and even Orra was unable to go on deck for the first three or four days. “Our only hope we knew was in God but our depression of spirits had become so extreme that it seemed almost too much to expect that even He could save.” Such despondency in one of such resolute faith says a lot about the level of misery.

A few incidents enlivened their trip: on the first night, they passed another ship, the Asia, and the America sent up “rockets” in greeting. At dinner the same night, everyone rushed from the dining room to see a waterspout: “We dropped knife & fork & went too, & a most splendid sight it was & exceeding rare for this climate. It appeared a light spiral streak stretching up from the water to the cloud, tunnel shaped at the top & not very distant & a ship apparently quite near it. It lasted 10 or 15 minutes.”

This voyage was less sociable going home than going out, so while Edward stayed below, Orra relaxed on deck by herself. “I had learned to have confidence in the ship & while I could sit on deck & see the vessel plunge, I really enjoyed it. Sat a long time by myself rapt in contemplation. Think my ideas of God were enlarged as I saw his wonders in the deep & then turned to the mind of man, that he was able to construct a ship to cross the ocean seemed to me wonderful.”

They reached Halifax, Nova Scotia, on October 15, glad to have their feet on solid ground for half an hour. A telegram was sent to Boston to announce the ship's imminent arrival. Even Edward’s spirits were revived, and he was able to sail the rest of the way without being sick.

After a night in Boston, Orra and Edward took a train to Northampton. They were greeted at the station by a few students selected for the honor of riding with President Hitchcock and his wife back to Amherst, where the class president gave a short speech of welcome. The campus and even the town were lit up to celebrate their return.

It was the end of an important interval in the Hitchcocks' lives, but they did not rest long. By December, Edward had submitted his report on agricultural education to the state. The duties of the presidency and the classroom called, and he conscientiously responded. Orra took up her strongly felt obligations toward family, college, and church with her usual zeal and energy. They had new perspectives, but they were back in their old lives.

Listen to what Orra wrote in her travel diary.

Listen to what Edward wrote in his travel diary.